SUN SENSITIVITY AND SUN REACTIONS
SUN ALLERGIES

SUN SENSITIVITY AND SUN REACTIONS
SUN ALLERGIES

This is called photosensitivity and can arise for a variety of reasons:

• Sun allergy, or “polymorphous light eruption,” where the skin breaks out in annoyingly itchy red bumps following sun exposure;
• Skin with a very fair phototype (skin tone), where the skin tends to burn with even mild sun exposure (red heads with freckles and blue eyes are particularly vulnerable)
•  Certain ingredients in skincare products such as AHAs, retinol and benzoyl peroxide can make the skin ultra-sensitive to UV, resulting in irritated skin following exposure;
• Skin with underlying problems such as acne can be aggravated by the drying effect of the sun;
• Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation puts you at risk for very intense sunburns, so it is generally advised to avoid any sun exposure.

SUN ALLERGY OR PHOTOSENSITIVITY?
PREVENTION IS KEY

In all cases of sun allergy or photosensitivity, whatever the cause, your buzzword is prevention and following a few simple steps can make all the difference.

Particularly in spring and summer, wear protective clothing (hat, long-sleeved shirt etc.). Always choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with ideally an SPF of 50+ and apply it to any areas of exposed skin. Avoid exposure when the sun is at its strongest between 10 am and 4 pm.

In this subsection, you will find a comprehensive guide to sun allergy, also known as polymorphous light eruption or benign summer light eruption, with crucial tips on how to avoid those annoyingly summer itches.